FOR a band who came together on the dizzy day that was The Stone Roses' Spike Island gig, Puressence's career has followed a spookily similar path in recent years.

The four from Failsworth have also been blighted by record company problems leading to subsequent delays in the release of their album.

But with all that behind them, the band are delighted to be at last promoting Planet Helpless, their third and widely believed to be their best release.

Led by frontman James Mudriczki, they've been together since 1990 and were at last starting to make real strides in 1998 with the release of their second album Only Forever.

This singles It Doesn't Matter Anymore, All I Want and particularly the soaring angel that was This Feeling put the band on the brink of a wave's crest until the record company delays arrived like an uninvited in-law.

But unlike The Stone Roses, the band didn't change labels as Island, in the face of numerous changes, rode out the storm and stuck by them so they could finally get the new record out.

And the band are delighted they did, despite having to return to day jobs for a while.

As James explains: "How easy would it have been for us to just disappear out of everyone's consciousness?

"There've been a few bad moments doing a few odd jobs just to earn money so I could keep my house and keep doing the band."

But it appears to have been worth it, as the band are now building up to the festival season with a few dates to bring the new material to the people.

Planet Helpless

And with Planet Helpless they have put together some diverse collaborations.

"We brought in a guy called Vee from a London based hip hop band to help us realise our ideas.

"And we worked in Paris with Le Negress Verte on How Does It Feel? and Strangers because we thought it was right for the songs. That was great."

James has also turned his ear to amongst others; Serge Gainsbourg, Genius, Nancy Sinatra and Basement Jaxx.

And this has all led in their most satisfying release to date.

"The new album is like 15-20 years of all the different facets of Manchester music - the acid house scene, the Roses, the Mondays, even Joy Division - all rolled into the present day."

Check out the results this weekend, Puressence certainly believe it has been worth the wait.

Puressence appear at the Manchester Academy on Saturday, April 26. Tickets are priced é10 and available from Picadilly Box Office on 0161 832111 or via the venue's website below.